Master’s in Data Science Programs in South Carolina

Studying Data Science in South Carolina

The South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce projects that computer and mathematical occupations will grow 24% statewide from 2022 to 2032 — more than double the state’s 11% average growth rate across all occupations. Within that group, data scientists stand out: DEW projects the role to grow 48% across South Carolina over the decade, and in the Lowcountry, it’s projected to grow 108%, faster than any other occupation there. Data scientist also ranks among the top five fastest-growing jobs in nine of the state’s other workforce development regions. A separate, corroborating data point comes from the South Carolina Council on Competitiveness’s 2024 SC Tech Economic Impact Study, which found the state’s tech cluster has grown more than twice as fast as South Carolina’s overall economy over the past decade, supporting over 143,000 jobs and $51.7 billion in economic output. For data science students, the takeaway is specific and occupation-level, not just sector-wide: South Carolina’s own labor agency projects data scientist roles to grow faster than nearly every other occupation in the state, and that demand appears across the state’s regions rather than concentrating in a single metro area.

• Greenville, Spartanburg, and the Upstate. Built on a deep manufacturing base, this region anchors one of South Carolina’s largest employment markets. BMW Manufacturing builds more vehicles at its Spartanburg County plant than any other BMW facility worldwide, and Michelin North America is headquartered in downtown Greenville. Prisma Health, the region’s largest employer at roughly 16,000 people, and Clemson University’s CU-ICAR automotive research campus round out the area’s data-relevant ecosystem. Data work here centers on manufacturing and supply chain analytics, industrial IoT, and healthcare operations, reflecting the region’s identity as an advanced manufacturing corridor rather than a conventional tech hub.
• Columbia and the Midlands. As the state capital and home to the University of South Carolina’s flagship campus, this region combines state government, higher education, healthcare, and financial services data work. BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina, the state’s largest private employer, runs a centralized AI Delivery Office and dedicated data science teams working on fraud detection and predictive health models. The Darla Moore School of Business’s Center for Applied Business Analytics supports applied research, and the USC/Columbia Technology Incubator supports early-stage tech companies. Data work here spans healthcare analytics, insurance and financial risk modeling, and state government data systems, benefiting from the region’s concentration of both large institutional employers and university research infrastructure.
• Charleston and the Lowcountry. Nicknamed “Silicon Harbor,” Charleston is home to more than 1,900 tech companies according to the Charleston Regional Development Alliance, including Boeing, which runs dedicated data science and analytics roles supporting 787 Dreamliner production, and Blackbaud, a cloud software company anchoring the region’s SaaS sector. Google has invested more than $13.5 billion in the region since 2007, employing over 900 people across data centers in Moncks Corner, Summerville, and St. George, and MUSC drives biomedical informatics research. Data work related to this region includes aerospace and manufacturing analytics, SaaS product data science, health informatics, and cybersecurity associated with nearby Joint Base Charleston.
• Rock Hill and the Charlotte Metro. Though geographically part of the Upstate, this area’s labor market runs on Charlotte, North Carolina, just across the state line. Red Ventures, a digital marketing and data science company that owns brands including CNET, Bankrate, and The Points Guy, is headquartered in Fort Mill and employs thousands of people in data-driven marketing, analytics, and AI product roles. LPL Financial also operates a large Fort Mill campus supporting its wealth-management technology and data analytics functions. Students drawn to consumer marketing analytics, growth data science, or financial services analytics will find some of the state’s most concentrated opportunities in this corridor, even though much of the hiring functionally serves the broader Charlotte market rather than South Carolina specifically.
• Florence and the Pee Dee. Northeastern South Carolina’s economy centers on healthcare, manufacturing, and logistics. McLeod Health, the region’s dominant health system with seven hospitals and roughly 15,000 employees, describes its own operations as increasingly data-driven, and nearby Timmonsville is home to Honda Manufacturing of South Carolina, which builds all-terrain vehicles and Side-by-Sides. Data work in this region skews toward healthcare operations and industrial manufacturing analytics rather than core software or AI roles, which may suit students interested in applying data science to clinical or production settings rather than pure tech.
• Myrtle Beach and the Grand Strand. This coastal region’s economy runs on tourism, a more than $26 billion annual draw along the Grand Strand, generating real demand for marketing and hospitality analytics work. Coastal Carolina University in nearby Conway anchors the region’s higher education base, and healthcare systems, including McLeod Health’s Seacoast facilities, also employ local data and analytics staff. Data work here leans toward tourism and marketing analytics, revenue and demand forecasting, and healthcare operations, a narrower band than the state’s larger metro regions but a genuine niche for students interested in hospitality or destination-marketing data.
• Aiken and the CSRA. Anchored by the Savannah River National Laboratory and the federal Savannah River Site, this region straddling the South Carolina-Georgia line is emerging as a hub for nuclear science computing and AI infrastructure. Meta is building an $800 million data center in Aiken County optimized for AI workloads, and USC Aiken opened an Advanced Manufacturing Collaborative in 2025 with a dedicated AI-experiment data center built with the national lab. Data work here includes nuclear and energy-systems computing, AI infrastructure operations, and applied manufacturing research, a distinct specialization that isn’t available in South Carolina’s other regions.

Most of South Carolina’s in-person data science employment is concentrated in these hubs. Students in those areas who want a data science credential without relocating can explore online programs to avoid longer commutes to campus.

Online Data Science Master’s Degrees in South Carolina

Online programs may suit South Carolina students who want graduate-level training without relocating to Columbia, Charleston, or Clemson or leaving their current jobs.

How to Compare Online Data Science Master’s Degrees

When comparing online programs, there is a lot to consider. To start, cover the basics by understanding the following 5 key factors:

• Can you enroll as a South Carolina resident? Is the school authorized to enroll students from your area, and does it hold institutional accreditation?
• What does the curriculum cover? Are there any specialties you’re interested in? Look for statistics, programming, machine learning, databases, visualization, ethics, and applied projects.
• What prerequisites are required? This might include prior coursework in programming, statistics, calculus, linear algebra, or computer science.
• How are classes delivered? Synchronous, asynchronous, or a blend of both? Does the schedule work with your lifestyle and other obligations?
• What support is available to online students? Does this include career services, faculty access, technical resources, and networking opportunities?

Online South Carolina Graduate Data Science Programs

South Carolina participates in the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (NC-SARA), and the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education serves as the state’s authorization body. In practice, this means South Carolina residents can generally enroll in accredited online master’s programs based in other SARA member states, though students should confirm with any out-of-state school that it accepts South Carolina residents. Within the state, several institutions now offer fully online master’s programs, more than in past years, though students should still confirm current program modality, admissions requirements, and tuition directly with each school.

• University of South Carolina: Master of Science in Data and Communication and Master of Applied Statistics - Columbia, SC. USC offers two fully online graduate options. The Data and Communication M.S. combines coursework from the School of Journalism and Mass Communications with the School of Information Science, covering data mining, visualization, and analytics alongside strategic communication; it’s a 30-credit program with no GRE requirement and may suit students who want to apply data skills to communications or marketing roles. The Master of Applied Statistics is a distance program from the Department of Statistics emphasizing applied statistical practice and consulting skills, requiring two semesters of college-level calculus and GRE or GMAT scores. Admission cycles and current application status vary by program; students interested in either option should contact the relevant department directly to confirm.
• Clemson University: Master of Science in Data Science and Analytics - Clemson, SC. Developed jointly by Clemson’s School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences and Department of Management, this fully online, 30-credit program admits students in cohorts that begin each summer. It does not require the GRE and may suit students without a computer science background who want a multidisciplinary blend of statistics, mathematics, and business management.
• Medical University of South Carolina: Master of Science in Health Informatics - Charleston, SC. This CAHIIM-accredited program is delivered fully online in seven-week courses with three admission points per year; the accelerated track can be completed in as few as three semesters. It emphasizes healthcare analytics, data governance, and the application of AI in clinical settings, and does not require the GRE or GMAT.
• Charleston Southern University: Master of Science in Business Analytics - Charleston, SC. Delivered fully online through Charleston Southern’s College of Adult and Professional Studies in an accelerated 7-week course format, this program integrates a faith-based perspective with training in data mining, predictive modeling, and analytic decision-making. It may suit working adults who want a flexible, business-facing analytics credential rather than a research-oriented data science degree.
• Coastal Carolina University: Santee Cooper Master of Science in Information Systems Technology (MSIST) - Conway, SC. This 100% online, 33-credit program with a concentration in security and analytics takes about 24 months to complete and prepares graduates for roles spanning data science, business intelligence, and information security, including data warehouse specialist and chief data officer paths. It may suit students interested in data work with a strong information-security component.

Learn more about what to look for in an online master’s in data science program in our guide.

In-State Data Science Master’s Programs and Related Degrees in South Carolina

The programs below are verified options, not a ranked list, and represent South Carolina’s hybrid and in-person master’s programs, meaning they require at least some on-campus presence.

• College of Charleston: Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science - Charleston, SC. This 30-credit, in-person program is open to students from any undergraduate background who can demonstrate competence in statistics, linear algebra, calculus, and computer programming, with conditional admission available for students missing one of these areas. Most classes are offered in the evening for working students, the GRE is not required, and the program culminates in either a thesis or a practicum with a regional employer such as Boeing, Blackbaud, or MUSC.
• University of South Carolina: Master of Science in Business Analytics (MSBA) - Columbia, SC. Offered through the Darla Moore School of Business, this STEM-designated, 30-credit program runs as a flexible one-year cohort starting each August. Most coursework is held on campus, though some courses include partial or fully virtual components. It includes a required analytics practicum or an approved data-intensive internship and may suit students seeking a business-facing analytics credential with strong employer connections.
• University of South Carolina: Master of Health Information Technology (MHIT) - Columbia, SC. A partnership between USC’s Department of Integrated Information Technology and its Department of Health Services Policy and Management, this program is available both on-campus and online and typically takes 18 months full-time (24 months part-time). It blends IT training with healthcare administration and includes a six-credit health information technology practicum, and may suit students who want a management-facing health IT credential rather than a general data science degree.
• Winthrop University: Master of Science in Accounting and Analytics (MSAA) - Rock Hill, SC. This STEM-designated, campus-based, 30-credit program is AACSB-accredited and includes built-in Business Analytics and Accounting Analytics micro-certificates, as well as an Advanced Accounting Certificate. It also prepares students for CPA licensure, and GMAT/GRE waivers are available for qualified applicants. It may suit students who want to combine analytics training with a path toward a CPA credential, and it’s the only program on this list based in the Rock Hill/Charlotte-metro corridor.

Data Science Programs in South Carolina

Programs included in this table were last reviewed in July 2026.

Data Science Certificates, Bootcamps, and Courses

A master’s degree is not the only path into data work. Certificates, bootcamps, and individual courses offer more targeted training for students who want to build specific skills before committing to a full graduate program, or who want a credential that stacks toward one later. These options vary widely in length, cost, and rigor, so students should compare carefully and confirm directly with each provider whether credits can apply toward a future degree.

Online South Carolina Graduate Certificate Programs in Data Science and Related Fields

South Carolina’s graduate certificate options are concentrated at the University of South Carolina, with both offered fully online and designed to stack toward a companion master’s degree. Students should confirm current admissions requirements and tuition directly with each program.

• University of South Carolina: Certificate in Data and Communication and Certificate of Graduate Study in Applied Statistics. USC offers two fully online graduate certificates. The Certificate in Data and Communication is a 12-credit program covering data mining, visualization, and strategic communication, with coursework that applies directly toward USC’s M.S. in Data and Communication for students who choose to continue into the full master’s program. The Certificate of Graduate Study in Applied Statistics, offered by USC’s Department of Statistics, is designed for engineers, scientists, and working professionals who want applied statistical training, and its courses can transfer into the full Master of Applied Statistics program for students who are later admitted.

Data Science Boot Camps in South Carolina

Data science and data analytics bootcamps are intensive, non-degree programs intended to build applied skills quickly, often through hands-on projects rather than semester-long coursework. Bootcamps may be offered through university continuing education divisions or third-party education partners, so students should confirm the credentials awarded, tuition, schedule, refund policies, and career support before enrolling.

University Affiliated Bootcamps in South Carolina

• University of South Carolina Upstate: Data Analytics Boot Camp. This online, roughly six-month program covers data science, analytics, and visualization skills and prepares students for the Microsoft PL-300 (Power BI) certification exam.
• University of South Carolina Aiken: Certified Business Data Analytics (CBDA) Prep Course. Offered through USC Aiken’s continuing education platform, this course prepares students for the Certified Business Data Analytics credential through guided instruction in business-facing analytics skills.

Learn more about data science boot camps and how they differ from graduate programs.

Data Science Courses in South Carolina

Individual courses and short technical certificates can help students build specific skills before committing to a full certificate or master’s program. Two South Carolina institutions offer standalone options outside the bootcamp and graduate-certificate paths already covered above.

• Greenville Technical College: Data Science Certificate in Applied Science — covers data visualization, machine learning, statistical analysis, and database management through Greenville Tech’s Computer Technology division.
• University of South Carolina: DataCamp Training Access — available to USC students, faculty, and staff through the university’s Research Training and Education office — offers self-paced courses and career certifications in data analysis, SQL, Python, and AI fundamentals, along with discounted partner exam vouchers for credentials such as Microsoft’s PL-300.

Learn more about individual course options in our guide to online data science courses.

Data Science Scholarships in South Carolina

The list below is not exhaustive. Students should also check each school’s graduate studies office, financial aid office, and department pages for additional funding not captured here.

• University of South Carolina - Department of Statistics Graduate Teaching Assistantships: The department offers up to 10 new teaching assistantships each fall to incoming M.S. and Ph.D. students in statistics, covering tuition and health insurance for recipients.
• Clemson University - Clemson Graduate School funding information: The Master of Science in Data Science and Analytics program does not currently offer assistantships, but Clemson’s broader Graduate School administers fellowships and other funding for graduate students across departments.
• College of Charleston - Department of Computer Science funding page: Home to the M.S. in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science, the department offers a limited number of general, teaching, and research assistantships, along with a Booz Allen Hamilton-funded scholarship established in 2023 specifically for computer science students.
• Medical University of South Carolina - MUSC Office of Financial Aid: Students in the Master of Science in Health Informatics program are eligible to apply for federal financial aid and should check with this office directly for program-specific funding.
• Winthrop University - Graduate Assistantships and Graduate Scholarships: M.S. in Accounting and Analytics students can apply through the MBA/MSAA office for assistantships, which combine a tuition grant with a stipend for up to 20 hours of weekly work, as well as competitive graduate scholarships.

Statewide or Regional Scholarship Resources

South Carolina’s state-funded scholarship programs, including the LIFE Scholarship and Palmetto Fellows, are primarily designed for undergraduate study; graduate students should instead seek institutional assistantships, federal aid, and external fellowships. South Carolina’s student loan forgiveness landscape is also narrow: the state’s dedicated loan repayment programs are restricted to healthcare providers practicing in rural or underserved areas, teachers in critical-need subjects, and public-interest lawyers, so students pursuing data or computing careers should not expect a state-specific loan forgiveness option and should instead look to federal programs such as Public Service Loan Forgiveness if they plan to work for a qualifying government or nonprofit employer.

• South Carolina Commission on Higher Education: State higher education agency with information on South Carolina-funded scholarships, grants, and the FAFSA completion process.
• NC-SARA: National source for understanding state authorization reciprocity for distance education.

Data Science Events in South Carolina

South Carolina’s data science community is spread across the Midlands, Lowcountry, and Upstate. Students will find general active tech and AI communities alongside more specialized options.

Data Science Meetups and Communities in South Carolina

• Charleston Data Science is an active meetup for practitioners, engineers, and students to discuss data management, analytics, and AI techniques.
• TechTalk - Columbia (SC) is an active Midlands meetup focused on emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and healthcare data, with regular events and discussions.
• Charleston Women in Tech runs regular seminars, mentor matchups, and networking events throughout the year, including programming tied to the annual Dig South Tech Summit.
• Alt. Computing Club is a weekly, general-purpose computing meetup in Greenville that draws software, data, and security practitioners; it isn’t data-science-specific, but it’s one of the most consistently active tech gatherings in the Upstate.
• Hub City Python User Group hosts regular “Coffee and Code” sessions in Greenville for anyone working with Python, a core language for data science.

Data Science Conferences and Workshops in South Carolina

• AI Day at USC, held annually in Columbia each spring, is a statewide showcase drawing students, faculty, and industry partners from South Carolina, Georgia, and North Carolina; the 2026 event drew more than 700 attendees to 14 breakout sessions and 35 poster presentations.
• Dig South Tech Summit, held annually in Charleston each June, features dedicated AI and data tracks, a $1 million “Wild Pitch” startup competition, and investor networking.
• Carolina Code Conference, held annually each August in Greenville, is a regional “polyglot” developer and cybersecurity conference covering topics relevant to data and software practitioners.

Data Science Jobs in South Carolina

Data science roles can involve collecting, cleaning, analyzing, modeling, visualizing, and communicating data. In South Carolina, these roles appear across healthcare, advanced manufacturing, financial services, aerospace and defense, and an expanding data center sector, often within regional offices of national employers rather than large in-state tech companies alone. A master’s degree may help students build advanced skills, but it does not guarantee employment, a specific salary, or the title of data scientist. Prior experience, technical projects, internships, networking, portfolio work, and interview preparation can also affect job opportunities. Explore related paths in our data science careers and data scientist career guide.

Data Scientist Salaries in South Carolina

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, data scientists in South Carolina earned a median annual wage of $91,990 in May 2025, with the lowest 10% earning $61,600 or less and the highest 10% earning $156,000 or more.

Students may also want to compare related occupations. Salary data can vary by location, industry, experience, education, and employer. The figures below are occupational wage figures, not guarantees of outcomes for graduates.

The table below uses the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics data for South Carolina.

Interested in STEM Careers?

If you’re looking for information on career paths that involve data science, analytics, technology, and related STEM fields, see our guides below.

Computer Science, Computer Engineering, and Information Careers

• Computer Engineer
• Computer Scientist
• Information Security Analyst
• Computer and Information Research Scientist
• Computer Systems Analyst

Marketing and User Research Careers

• Marketing Analyst
• Market Research Analyst
• Digital Marketer
• UX Designer

Compare Careers and STEM Fields

• Data Analyst vs. Data Scientist
• Computer Science vs. Computer Engineering
• Cybersecurity vs. Computer Science
• Data Analytics vs. Business Analytics
• Data Science vs. Machine Learning

Related Graduate STEM Degrees

Related Undergraduate STEM Degrees

• Online Bachelor’s in Data Science
• Online Bachelor’s in Computer Science

South Carolina Data Science, Tech, and Career Resources

• South Carolina Commission on Higher Education (CHE): State agency for institutional authorization, SARA participation, and financial aid information.
• South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW): State labor market information division source for employment projections, wage data, and workforce programs.
• South Carolina Department of Commerce: State economic development agency tracking industry recruitment, high-tech investment, and target sectors.
• South Carolina Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Data Portal: Public geospatial datasets from state agencies, useful for portfolio projects and civic data exploration.
• South Carolina Department of Transportation GIS/Mapping: Downloadable state transportation and roadway data.
• TechSC (Technology Association of South Carolina): Statewide, member-based organization that connects the state’s technology community and advocates for tech-related policy.
• NC-SARA: National source for understanding state authorization reciprocity for distance education.